Christmas.
What did it ever mean to him?
Just another boring family function, more performances, more practice...
The day was coming around soon enough. He could see his okaa-san humming Christmas tunes to herself and decorating the house every now and then. In the large lounge room a Christmas tree stood centre, decorated heavily and with presents underneath.
He decided to get away from the house, and head towards the park.
I feel like I've forgotten something.
He ran to the park, not knowing why or what was propelling him to do so... he stopped short as soon as he saw a lone figure with long crimson red hair, staring at the large Christmas tree.
Hino? What is she doing here?
As he hesitantly stepped closer, he could hear her voice. She was singing a tune. He couldn't recognise it, but he listened nevertheless.
"I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is"
She turns around, eyes wide with surprise.
"Tsu-tsu... Tsukimori-kun???"
She blushes.
"I... umm... I... Did you..."
He looks at her, before turning to the large Christmas tree.
"The song? I heard quite a bit of it..."
He turns to face her, noting that part of her face looked red.
Is it from the cold?
"Who is it?"
He recites the last line of the song, precisely as she had sung it before.
"All I want for Christmas is"
She bows her head, and mutters something incomprehensible. He walks closer towards her, intent on hearing the answer.
But why? Why do I want to know the answer?!
He had also noticed a recent hammering in his heart, making him more aware... of everything. He stops just inches away from her, and turns back to look at the Christmas tree.
"If you don't want to tell, I'm not going to pressure you..."
As much as he wants to hear the answer, he knows that he shouldn't rush... and that, her answer could probably be that green-haired pianist he hates so much...
Is hearing the answer to this question really a good thing, or am I just going to walk away as a normal person, broken apart by the decision of just one girl...
|~-~|
She knew that she wanted to let Tsukimori-kun know. He deserved to know... the truth.
She grips his black winter coat, making him turn around to look at her.
"Tsukimori-kun... all I... all I want –"
She puts her face up, looking at him.
"All I want for Christmas... is you"
I finally said it.
|~-~|
He blinks, not really sure if he had heard correctly. But, she says it again. This time, she sings it in song, and she looks at him straight in the eye, adding one last line.
"Tsukimori-kun... I like you."
The impact of those few words just blew him away.
|~-~|
She smiled sadly, noting that what she thought would happen had indeed happened. He had stood there, just looking at her in... shock? ... and she bit her lip.
"If you don't feel the same..."
"Hino."
She blinks, woken from her thoughts, and looks at him. He leans towards her that their heads touch.
"I ran towards the park today, you know..."
She blinks again, not really sure where this is leading.
"I didn't know why at first... but now I do. I was led towards you."
She opens her mouth in a small 'o', feeling another blush evident on her face. He smiles at her, and she knows she'll never forget this moment.
She leans towards his lips, wanting the rare taste of his smile, and note with happiness that he responds, kissing her, wrapping his arms around her, her arms already on his neck.
They break slowly, taking a few moments to survey each other.
"All I've ever wanted... was you"
He takes a moment to finish the phrase, looking for the right word.
"Kahoko."
As her heart soars with happiness at his statement and calling her by name, she knows that she'll look forward to all the times ahead.